Andrea Dovizioso started the MotoGP season with a win, but Marc Marquez was content with second in Qatar.

Marquez will sleep easily after last-ditch Qatar move


Marc Marquez said he would not have been able to sleep if he had not made a last-ditch attempt to deny Andrea Dovizioso victory in Qatar on Sunday.

Dovizioso started the MotoGP season on a high note at the Losail International Circuit, taking maximum points ahead of defending champion Marquez.

Marquez was unable to get past the Ducati rider when he tried to nip in on the inside under the lights on the final turn, but the Spaniard was content to take the second step on the podium.

"If [I don't try], I cannot sleep. I tried, was not possible. Now I can sleep well this night," the Repsol Honda rider said.

"Looks like we started the season like we finished [the previous one], it's like a deja vu. Last corner with Andrea, go in, go wide, he goes in, and wins the race.

"This will change in the future I hope but anyway I am very happy because today he deserved the victory, he was faster than us, he had more.

"My target was trying to control Andrea because he was the fastest one and my plan was when he passed [Johann] Zarco I go behind, doesn't matter when and where.

"He overtook Zarco I just was behind him. I was in the limit, all in, sliding around the track but I was able to stay there.

"I was able to try in the last corner, happy for that and happy for these 20 points."

Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi charged up from eighth to earn the final step on the podium, as Zarco, who qualified on pole with a record lap, had the lack of race pace in his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 exposed.